Playground rocker



Oct. 6, 1959 I. HOROWITZ PLAYGROUND ROCKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1'7, 195'? INVENTOR [9400/95 fi mmrz ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1959 HOROWITZ 2,907,570

PLAYGROUND ROCKER Filed Dec. 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u H'- .5 7 e2,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent PLAYGROUND ROCKER Isadore Horowitz, Shreveport, La., assignor to Universal Manufacturing Co., Inc., Bossier City, La., 21 corporation of Louisiana Application December 17, 1957, Serial No. 703,312

16 Claims. (Cl. 272-56) This invention relates to playground equipment, and more particularly to a rocker type playground piece upon which one .or more persons may stand or sit to obtain the pleasure o-f a self-propelled rocking ride by shifting their respective positions to overcome the inertia of the device itself or the device and the weight and counterforce of an opponent to also secure the beneficial exercise that such self-propelling action provides.

Many kinds of playground-type equipment and exercise apparatus devised for the amusement and physical development of children through rocking or see-saw action have heretofore been provided. Such devices to be practical and serviceable usually must be of strong and rugged construction. To accomplish this result, the component parts used in the past for making playground equipment have been made up of large numbers of elements', are heavy and bulky, require large cartons for shipping and storage by retailers, require considerable assembly time and effort, and, because of the high shipping and storage costs in some cases equalling or exceeding the original cost of production, the ultimate consumer cost is made unduly high. In many cases, the prior art rocker equipment,v such as the common play,

' ground see-saw or teeter-totter, are designed for operation from a sitting position, thus limiting the stimulating exercise desired from the use of such equipment. Where standing-type equipment has been previously proposed,

the construction has consisted of conventional pipe lengths and fittings.

Such prior playground-type equipment has not found a ready market for use in the yards of homes because its bulk and weight militate against convenient packaging for over-the-counter sale and beacuse of the tedious and difficult assembling of the component parts requiring special assembly tools or skill not possessed by many parents.

The primary object of this invention, accordingly, is

"to provide play-type exercise rocking equipment of simple but sturdy construction adapting it for both neighborhood or school playground use and home yard usage and com prising-relatively few component parts requiring rela- 'tively little packing or storage space when dismantled and assuring quickand simple assembly by even unskilled persons. q

Another object of this invention is to provide rocking equipment for playground or home'yard usage composed of a minimum number of assembled component parts which are'simple and economical to manufacture and which when assembled will be mutually reinforcing to provide a strong and rugged structure that can survive the abuse normally incurred in use.

A still further object of the present invention resides in providing a rocker-type playground device capable of use by one or more persons that will provide an interesting plaything while at the same time assuring maximum physical exercise with extreme safety.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing a playground or backyard piece of equipment 1 ladder-type, prefabricated end frame assemblies 14, a

type bracing member forming one of the fabrication elements of this invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a ground-engagi g rocker element forming another of the fabrication elements of this invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of a pair of foot plate elements adapted to extend between and rigidly interconnect adjacent ends of a pair of the laterally spaced rocker elements referred to in the description of Figure 3 in assembling the rocking device of this invention;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of one of the ladder-type end assemblies adapted to be secured inwardly of the foot plate elements to the pair of rocker elements mentioned in Figure 4 and forming aprefabricatcd component of this invention;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a combined longitudinal bracing strut and handheld element, a pair of which is provided to respectively connect the opposed upper ends of the pair of ladder-type and assemblies of Figure 5 and required to complete the rocking device of this invention; and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified prefabricated rocker component usable in lieu of the user-assembled V fabrication elements of Figures 2 and 3. v

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, there is illustrated in Figure l a playground rocking device indicated generally at it) in the form of a user fabricated, self-reinforcing, framework comprising a pair of side-byside'laterally spaced, longitudinally curved, ground-engaging rocker elements 12, a pair of laterally"related pair of foot plate elements 15, a pair of rocker element reinforcing struts it; extending in chord-like longitudinal relation between opposite ends of the rocker elements 12 and a pair of combined bracing strut and hand-hold elements 19. The rocker elements 12 adjacent their ends are provided with longitudinally spaced pairs of through openings 13 extending in a common radially directed plane and, atpointsinwardly from each of the innermost openings 13, are further provided with laterally extending through openings lld(Figure 3). The reinforcing struts 13 have their oppositeends flattened out and provided with. through holes it? (Figure 2) and the lower ends of the.prefabricatedladder-type end com ponent assemblies 14 have the lower ends of their side members flattened and provided with through holes 29 t (Figure 5).

These ladder-type end frame components li comprise a pair of elongated side members 22,. disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation and a plurality of cross bars 24 spaced longitudinally therebetween and forming transverse ladder rungs in use. The opposite ends of bars 24 are rigidly connected to side members 22 in any suitable manner, such as welding riveting, bolting or the like, at the factory to assure an extremely rigid structure capable of resisting the twistingforces normally. to

be expected in use'of the device."

In assembling the device, footplateelements 15 hav-.

ing through openings 26 at each'corner are'preferable first connected to the opposite ends of one of rocker ele- Patented Oct. (5, 1959 assembly.

ments 12 by aligning the predetermined spaced holes 13 and 26 and loosely securing bolt and nut assemblies 27 therein. The opposite ends of foot elements 15 are then similarly connected to the other rocker element ends.

This preliminary subassembly is effected in a manner that will assure interconnection of the rocker elements 12 in side-by-side parallel relation as shown in Figure 1 so that the remaining elements or prefabricated components may be readily assembled therewith.

With this preliminary subassembly resting on the ground or other supportsurface with the convex sides of rocker elements 12 lowermost, the assembly is continued .by inserting the lower flattened ends of one end frame assembly 14 between the opposed lateral openings 16 of rocker elements 12 with the outer flattened side faces of side members 22 abutting the inner faces of rocker elements 12 and openings 20 aligned with openings 16, .locating the flattened ends of the pair of reinforcing struts 18 in respective abutting relation to the inner faces of the flattened lower ends of members 22 with the open- :ings 20 thereof aligned with openings 21 of members 22 and inserting and loosely securing bolt and nut assemblies 28 in assembled relation in aligned holes 20 and 16.

f The other end frame assembly 14 and the opposite ends of struts 18 are then similarly connected to the opposite ends of rocker elements 12.

The opposite ends of combined bracing strut and hand-hold elements 19 are preferably upwardly bent at 29 and then downwardly bent at 30 (Figure 1) in a common plane containing centered straight sections 32 to provide downward divergently directed hand-hold portions 33 which are hollow and shaped to telescopingly receive the upper ends 34 (Figure of end frame assembly side members 22. These bracing strut and hand-hold elements 19 are then respectively fitted over the oppositely located upper end frame ends 34 at respective sides of the device to complete the assembly. With all major elements preliminarily assembled, the several nut and bolt assemblies are then tightened to complete the If desired, the hand-hold portions 33 adjacent their lower ends and the upper ends 34 of end frame assemblies may be respectively provided with aligned through bolt openings to receive securing bolts However, such securing bolts have not the telecoped portions of the elements 19 and end frame assemblies 14.

To simplify the final assembly operations and provide greater rigidity of the rocker structure, the prefabricated .rocker subassembly 43 of Figure 7 may be provided in place of the separate rockers 12 and struts 18. In this modified embodiment, a rocker element 42 which is of the same general construction as element 12 is reinforced .by a longitudinal strut or chord-like bracing member 44 the opposite ends 45 of which are bent up and provided with matingly curved undersurfaces permanently rigidly connected to rocker member 42 by welds as indicated at 46. vFor additional strength, a vertical bracing member 48 is welded substantially centrally between strut 44 and rocker element 42. This construction provides a prestock. The illustrations, however, employ tubular steel stock for these parts. The foot plates 35, illustrated as wood, may be made of wood, plastic, orvother suitable materials and the tubular stock making up the remainder of the component parts preferably constitutes highstrength, lightweight aluminum alloy,. steel, or other ';'suitable lightweight materialsassuring maximum strength :and, minimum w'eight to keep shipping charges at a minir 4 mum and assure ready movability of the device, a consideration of importance in home yard usage.

In use, persons standing on foot plates 15 and gasping hand-hold portions 30 of strut bracing bars 19 as illustrated in Figure 1 can rock the device. Others may, if desired, stand along struts 18 at both sides holding on to straight horizontal sections 32 of struts 19 or sit straddling struts 19. Struts 19 may serve as an additional exercising device, namely, the type that is commonly .known in gymnasiums as parallel bars. Also, one person may stand on struts 18 straddling the longitudinal center of the device 10 and by grasping the horizontal sections 32 of struts 19 and shifting his weight back and forth cause the device 10 to rock back and forth. A single person operation may also be effected by a person standing on one or another of the rungs 24 and grasping hand holds 33 or sections 32 of struts 18. By proper coordination of the shifting weight and rocking by one or a plurality of users at the same time that a tained. It is readily apparent from Figure l thatpersons standing on the platforms or foot plates 35 and grasping the hand-hold ends 30 of bracing strut bars 28 can cause the rocking device 10 of this invention to rock freely or with increasing effort on the part of one another depending upon their cooperatively shifting their weight forward. and backward or to an increasingly greater extent shifting their weight in opposition to one another.

It will further be appreciated that either of the embodiments heretofore described lends itself admirably to shipment and storage in knocked down compactly packaged form. In this connection, the illustrated unit permits attainment of a shipping weight of approximately 33 lbs. entailing a freight allowance at present rates of $.50 per unit. The interior package dimensions need not exceed in width the width of end assemblies 14 (between 12 and 24 inches), the length of rockers 12 (of the order' of 6 feet), and a thickness not exceeding the combined thickness of the end frame rungs and the two rocker elements (of the order of 3 inches). When so packaged, the cartons (probably of corrugated paper box (since 12 conventional nuts and bolts only are required to completerthe assembly as will be apparent from the preceding description, it will be apparent that no tools are required other than a pair of pliers and an open end wrench, or two pairs of pliers, or two open end wrenches,

- all commonly found in the average home. No skill beyond that of the average home owner or apartment dweller is required to effect the assembly, particularly if minimum assembly instructions are inserted inthe package.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacter- .istics thereof. The present embodiments aretherefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by'United States Letters Patent is: i

1. A rocker device for home or neighborhood playground usage comprising a pair of rocker elements dis posed in side-by side relation; longitudinal tension resist ing struts individual to and interconnecting the opposite their 'b posed lowerends respectively to adjacent laterally Opposed ends of said pair of rocker elementsthereby {fixedly joining said rocker elements in side-by-side as- ..s ern'bled relation; and a pair of longitudinally elongated cdmbined strut and hand-hold bars respectively directly connected at their opposite ends to the upper, longitudinally opposed ends of said end assemblies to rigidly interconnect the opposed upper ends of said end assemblies and thereby rigidly joining the opposite end assemblies at each side to resist relative inward and outward collapsing movement of said end assemblies and provide a rocker playground device wherein said longitudinal struts, said end assemblies and said combined strut and hand-hold bars cooperateto mutually reinforce one another andprovide a rigid substantially rectangular framework.

2.The rocker device of claim 1 together with a pair of foot plates respectively extending between the opposite adjacent ends of said rocker elements and forming standing surfaces for a user at each end of said rocker device.

3. A rocking device comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally curved, ground engaging, rocker elements; a pair of elongated end frame members, each being readily detachably connected at its laterally opposed lower ends to a respective rocker member adjacent its ends; bracing means extending between said longitudinally opposed upper frame member ends and adapted to telescopically receive said frame member upper ends; and platform support means adjacent opposite longitudinal ends of said rocker members forming foot stands for use by persons at the opposite ends of said device.

4. A rocking device comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally curved, ground engaging rocker elements; longitudinal strut bracing rigidly connecting the opposite ends of each of said rocker elements; a pair of end frame members, the lower ends of said end frame members being detachably respectively connected to the adjacent opposite ends'of said rocker elements; bracing means extending between said respective end frame member upper ends and telescopically detachably con nected thereto; and foot support means mounted on said rocker elements and extending between adjacent opposite longitudinal ends thereof.

5. The rocking device of claim 4 in which there is a substantially vertical bracing member generally centrally ends of each of said rocker elements; a pair of ladderlike end assemblies inclined toward each other and having laterally spaced longitudinally elongated side members and transverse rung-like members rigidly connected thereto, said longitudinal side members having their respective lower ends detachably connected to a respective rocker element adjacent an end thereof; longitudinal strut means extending between said ladder-like end assemblies and detachably connecting the upper ends of said end assemblies; and a foot plate detachably mounted between said rocker members at their adjacently related ends;

8. The rocking device of claim 7 in which said longitudinal strut means have tubular ends which interfit telescopically with the upper ends of the longitudinal side members of said ladder-likeend assemblies.

9. A rocking device comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally curved, tubular, ground engaging rocker elements; a pair of ladders having upstanding longitudinal side members and transverse rung-like members rigidly connected thereto disposed with their respective lower ends detachably connected to said rocker elemerits adjacent the respective opposite ends thereof; longitudinal bracing means having tubular ends teleelement has a chord-like bracing strut detachably con nected thereto and the detachable connecting means therefor and for said respective lower ends of said ladder side members comprise respective common bolt andnut assemblies.

11. The rocking device of claim 9 in which each rocking element has a chord-like bracing strut :welded thereto. r

12. A rocking device comprising a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally curved, tubular ground engaging rocker elements; a chord-like tubular bracing strut individual to each rocker element; respective nut and bolt assemblies rigidly detachably connecting each end of a respective bracing strut to its rocker element at points disposed inwardly from the opposite ends: of each rocker element; a pair of upstanding ladders inclined toward each other disposed at opposite ends of said rocker elements and comprising respective longitudinal side members and transverse rung-like members rigidly connected thereto, said respective nut and bolt assemblies also serving todetachably secure the lower ends of the longitudinal side members of said ladders to said rocker elements; a pair of spaced longitudinal tubular bracing bars extending between said ladders and providing laterally spaced hand-hold portions telescopically interfitted with the corresponding upper ends of the longitudinal side members of said ladders; and a foot support platform detachably bolted to the adjacent opposite ends of said rocker elements.

13. An assembly kit for marketing playground rocker devices to be assembled by ultimate users comprising a pair of longitudinally curved rocker elements having longitudinally spaced right angularly related pairs of bolt openings formed adjacent each end; a pair of platforms each apertured at respective corners to form bolt openings adapted to be respectively aligned with one of said pairs of bolt openings at each end of said rocker elements; bolt and nut assemblies adapted. to be entered through said aligned bolt openings to secure said platforms in lateral spanning relation between the adjacent opposite ends of said rocker elements and secure said rocker elements in side-by-side laterally spaced relation; a pair of ladder-like end assemblies having laterally opposed side members providing upper and lower attachment ends the lower ends of which are provided with laterally aligned bolt openings adapted to be respectively aligned with a pair of said right angularly related bolt openings at the opposite ends of said rocker elements; bolt and nut assemblies adapted. to be entered through said aligned pairs of bolt openings in said end assemblies and said rocker elements to secure said end assemblies to said rocker elements; and a pair of longitudinally elongated, strut type bracing elements having respective de of longitudinally elongated strut type reinforcing elements permanently secured in chord-like relation to said respective rocker elements to form longitudinally reinforced rocker components.

. '15. The assembly kit of claim 13 together with a pair 'of longitudinally elongated strut type reinforcing elernents the opposite ends of which are suitably apertured 1 to. provide bolt openings positioned for alignment with said aligned bolt openings of said end assemblies and l rocker. elements so as to receive said last mentioned nut and bolt assemblies to secure said strut elements in chord-like reinforcing relation to said respective rocker elements.

16. A rocker device for home or neighborhood playground usage comprising a pair of tubular rocker elements disposed in side-by-side relation; longitudinal tension resisting struts individual to and interconnecting ,the opposite ends of said respective tubular rocker elements to form respective rocker assemblies and maintain the bowed shape of said tubular rocker elements; at least two upstanding laterally extending tension and compression resisting assemblies, each directly connected at its generally vertically extending side extremities to adjacent laterally opposed portions of said rocker assemblies, said assemblies being spaced longitudinally along said rocker assemblies and fixedly joining said rocker assemblies in side-by-side assembled relation; and hand hold bar means directly connected at each of theiroppoing tension and compression resisting assemblies and said hand-hold bar means cooperate to mutually reinforce one another and provide a rigid substantially rectangular I framework.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,290,562 Jacquot Jan. 7, 1919 1,754,109 Kitze Apr. 9, 1930 2,768,828 Pack n--. Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 131,103 Australia Jan. 24, 1949 197,253 I Germany Apr. 9, 1908 

